Filling unit

ABSTRACT

A filling unit, in particular for filling containers with a liquid, preferably cartridges for electronic cigarettes includes: a nozzle for dispensing a product; a supporting base having at least one housing seat configured to receive the nozzle; a blocking member mobile between an operative position, in which the blocking member prevents extraction of the nozzle from the housing seat, and an inoperative position, in which the nozzle can be extracted from the housing seat; and a fastening member for fixing the blocking member in the operative position, where the fastening member includes a gripping portion provided for manual command without the use of tools of the fastening member.

FIELD

The present invention regards a filling unit, in particular for fillingcontainers with a liquid, preferably cartridges for electroniccigarettes.

BACKGROUND

In general, units of this type comprise a plurality of nozzles fordispensing the product that are mounted on a supporting base of thefilling unit.

During use of the filling unit there may be the need to replace one ormore of the dispensing nozzles, for example, with nozzles of a differentshape and size, for starting a process of filling with a new product, orelse simply with new nozzles of the same type, in the context of anintervention of programmed maintenance of the filling unit.

For filling units of a known type, replacement of the nozzles requiresthe intervention of a technician specialized in the activity ofmaintenance and repair of systems, in so far as it is necessary tointervene on the filling unit to dismantle, using specific tools, partsof the filling unit before being able to remove the nozzles to bereplaced and mount the new nozzles.

The above operations are relatively complex and impose prolonged machinestoppages.

On the other hand, it is pointed out that usually the aforesaid figureof specialized technician is a person different from the operatorresponsible for control of the machines so that mere replacement of thenozzles of the filling unit in any case also raises a problem from anorganizational standpoint.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY

In this context, the present invention proposes a new filling unit thatis able to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, the present invention regards a filling unit according toclaim 1. Moreover, the present invention regards a method for fastmounting of a nozzle in a filling unit according to claim 9, and amethod for fast removal of a nozzle to be replaced from a filling unitaccording to claim 11.

The claims form an integral part of the teaching provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention willemerge clearly from the ensuing description with reference to theannexed drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limitingexample and in which:

FIG. 1 represents an example of the filling unit forming the subject ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 represents a detail of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 represents the components of FIG. 2 in a different operatingcondition;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the components of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view according to the plane V-V of FIG. 1 ;and

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of successive steps A, B, C of themethod described herein for mounting/removing a nozzle in/from a fillingunit.

DESCRIPTION

In the ensuing description various specific details are illustratedaimed at enabling an in-depth understanding of the embodiments. Theembodiments can be obtained without one or more of the specific details,or with other methods, components, or materials, etc. In other cases,known structures, materials, or operations are not illustrated ordescribed in detail so that various aspects of the embodiment will notbe obscured.

The references used herein are provided merely for convenience and hencedo not define the sphere of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

With reference to the figures, the filling unit described herein,designated as a whole by the reference number 10, comprises asubstantially horizontal supporting base 2, provided in which is anorderly row of openings 2A (see FIG. 5 ) aligned along a reference axisY of the filling unit 10. Received within each opening 2A is a housingseat 4 in the form of a hollow body, which is secured via screws to thesupporting base 2.

Each housing seat 4 has a generic cylindrical conformation, withflattened cross section, which extends along a (substantially vertical)reference axis Z and is characterized by a top portion 41 and a bottomportion 42 with a cross section smaller than that of the top portion 41.

The top portion 41 has a flanged end 41A, which sets itself against thetop surface of the supporting base 2 and through which the housing seat4 is secured to the supporting base 2 with the aid of screws.

With reference to FIG. 5 , the top portion 41 engages via its outersurface 41B the inner wall 2A′ of the opening 2A according to a shapefit so as to guarantee a precise positioning of the housing seat 4within the filling unit 10 (in particular guarantee a precisepositioning of the housing seat 4 with respect to the supporting base2).

Internally, the top portion 41 defines a cavity 41C, at the bottom ofwhich there depart two parallel cavities 41D 41E, which extend withinthe bottom portion 42 along the reference axis Z.

The housing seat 4 is configured define two housing seats—constituted bythe cavities 41D and 41E—of as many dispensing nozzles 6. Clearly, theconfiguration of the housing seat 4 may be modified to receive a numberof nozzles other than two, for example just one nozzle or else a numberof nozzles greater than two.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, thedispensing nozzles 6 are constituted by dispensing needles. Inparticular, in one or more preferred embodiments, like the oneillustrated, each nozzle 6 comprises a needle 6A and a connector 6B of afemale type.

The nozzle 6 is received in the cavity 41D or 41E in a condition inwhich the needle 6A comes out underneath from the bottom portion 42through an opening 42A made at the bottom of the cavity 41D or 41E, andthe connector 6B engages the cavity 41D or 41E according to a shape fit.In particular, the connector 6B comprises an outer surface 61,preferably slightly conical, which is set in direct contact with theinner wall 43 of the cavity 41D or 41E, having a shape corresponding tothe outer surface 61 of the connector 6B. Preferably, the connector 6Bhas a top flanged end 62 that is set bearing upon the bottom of thecavity 41C.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, thefilling unit 10 further comprises a nozzle-carrier element 8. The nozzle6 is coupled in a removable way, preferably by interference fit, to saidnozzle-carrier element 8. The nozzle-carrier element 8 is configured toset the nozzle 6 in fluid communication with a tank 12 containing theliquid product to be dispensed.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, thenozzle-carrier element 8 is configured to carry a pair of nozzles 6 thatare to be received in the two cavities 41D, 41E of a single housing seat4. Clearly, the nozzle-carrier element 8 may vary its configuration tocarry a number of nozzles other than two, preferably according to thenumber of nozzles envisaged within the single housing seat 4.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, thenozzle-carrier element 8 is inserted into the housing seat 4 after thetwo nozzles 6 have been coupled to the nozzle-carrier element 8 itself.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, thenozzle-carrier element 8 comprises a body 81 that is to be received inthe cavity 41C of the housing seat 4, from which there project at thebottom two connectors 82 of a male type that are each to be inserted inthe connector 6B of a respective nozzle 6. Preferably, coupling betweenthe connectors 82, 6B is by interference fit.

When the nozzle-carrier element 8 is inserted, together with the twonozzles 6, into the housing seat 4, the connector 6B of each nozzle 6 isgripped between the bottom portion 42 of the housing seat 4 and theconnector 82 of the nozzle-carrier element 8.

It should be noted that the shape fit between the housing seat 4 and thenozzle-carrier element 8, and the one between the housing seat 4 and thenozzle 6, guarantee a pre-set, precise and repeatable, positioning ofthe nozzle 6 within the filling unit 10.

The nozzle-carrier element 8 further comprises a top connector 83, whichcomes out at the top from the housing seat 4 and is configured toconnect the nozzle-carrier element 8 to a supply pipe 14, which isconfigured to supply to the nozzle-carrier element 8 the liquid productcontained in the tank 12. Preferably, the top connector 83 has, on itsouter lateral surface, two opposed recessed portions 83A to facilitategripping thereof by the operator during the process of mounting orremoval of the nozzles 6 on or from the filling unit 10 (as described indetail in what follows).

Moreover, the nozzle-carrier element 8 comprises internal ducts 84 forsetting the top connector 83 and the two connectors 82 in fluidcommunication and in this way connecting the supply pipe 14hydraulically to the two dispensing nozzles 6 (and hend3 the tank 12 tothe dispensing nozzle 6).

Preferably, the supply pipe 14 in turn comprises a connector 14Aconfigured to couple with the connector 83 of the nozzle-carrier element8 by interference fit.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, in aposition corresponding to where the nozzle-carrier element 8 comes outwith its connector 83 from the housing seat 4, secured on the supportingbase 2 is an anchorage seat 22. On said anchorage seat 22 a blockingmember 24 is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation I that issubstantially parallel to the reference axis Y of the filling unit 10.In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, theblocking member 24 is constituted by a bracket rotatably mounted aboutthe axis of rotation I at a proximal end thereof 24A and having a freedistal end 24B.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, theblocking member 24 is mobile between an inoperative position (FIG. 3 )and an operative position (FIG. 2 ).

In the operative position, the distal end 24B of the blocking member 24sets itself over and against a top surface of the connector 83 of thenozzle-carrier element 8 so as to prevent extraction of thenozzle-carrier element 8 from the housing seat 4 and hence removal ofthe two nozzles 6 from their respective housing seats 41D, 41E.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, the end24B of the blocking member 24 has two appendages 24B′ set at a distanceapart from one another that set themselves on opposite sides of theconnector 14A of the supply pipe 14.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, theblocking member 24 carries on it a fastening member 26, which performsthe function of fixing the blocking member 24 in the aforesaid operativeposition.

In particular, in one or more preferred embodiments, like the oneillustrated, the fastening member 26 comprises a pipping portion 26Aprovided for manual control without the use of tools of the fasteningmember 26.

In one or more preferred embodiments, like the one illustrated, thefastening member 26 (in particular, the gripping portion 26A) comprisesa rotatable knob 26A, connected fixedly in rotation to which is a fixingpin 26B, configured to engage a threaded hole 22A made in the anchorageseat 22 so as to fix the blocking member 24 to the supporting base 2.Incidentally, it should be noted that the term “knob” is here to beunderstood as any gripping portion that can be gripped manually by auser and is configured to be moved, once again by the user and onceagain manually, according to a movement of rotation.

The fastening member 26 can then be controlled manually and without theuse of tools for disengaging the fixing pin 26B from the threaded hole22A of the anchorage seat 22 in order to release the blocking member 24from its operative position.

The blocking member 24 can then be shifted from the operative positionto the inoperative position; preferably, to reach the aforesaidinoperative position the blocking member 24 is substantially turnedupside down. In this second position, its end 24B no longer engages thenozzle-carrier element 8 and preferably comes to occupy a positionopposed to the nozzle-carrier element 8 itself with respect to the axisof rotation I.

When the blocking member 24 is in the aforesaid inoperative position,the nozzle-carrier element 8 is free from impediments and can beextracted from the housing seat 4 via a simple action of pullingupwards.

Preferably, the gripping portion 26A of the fastening member 26constitutes a so-called “unloseable” component; i.e., it is constrainedto the blocking member 24 so as to remain stably connected thereto alsowhen the blocking member is in its inoperative position. The fasteningmember 26 is hence always ready to be controlled manually and withoutthe use of tools.

Thanks to the characteristics referred to above, the filling unit 10 isconfigured for fast mounting/removal of the nozzles 6.

With reference now to FIG. 6 , replacement of the nozzles 6 of thefilling unit 10 can hence be carried out through fast removal of thenozzles 6 to be replaced from the filling unit 10, and throughsubsequent fast mounting of new nozzles 6 into the unit 10 itself.

In general, according to the present invention, the method for fastremoval of the nozzle 6 to be replaced from the filling unit 10,comprises the step of controlling the fastening member 26 so as torelease the blocking member 24 from the operative position, where theblocking member 24 prevents extraction of the nozzle 6 from the housingseat 4 provided in the supporting base 2 of the filling unit 10.

In detail, the step of controlling the fastening member 26 includesmanually gripping, without the use of tools, the gripping portion 26A ofthe fastening member 26 and, via the gripping portion 26A, operating thefastening member 26 to release the blocking member 24 from the operativeposition.

In addition, the method for fast removal of the nozzle 6 to be replacedfrom the filling unit 10 comprises the steps of: bringing the blockingmember 24 from the operative position to the inoperative position, wherethe nozzle 6 can be extracted from the housing seat 4 (FIG. 6A); andextracting the nozzle 6 to be replaced from the housing seat 4.

More in particular, the step of controlling the fastening member 26comprises the step of manual gripping, without the use of tools, of thegripping portion 26A of the fastening member 26 and/or the step ofturning the gripping portion 26A to disengage the threaded pin 26B ofthe fastening member 26 from the threaded hole 22A of the anchorage seat22.

Preferably, the step of extracting the nozzle 6 to be replaced from thehousing seat 4 comprises the step of extracting a nozzle-carrier element8 from the housing seat 4 (FIG. 6B).

Furthermore, the method for fast removal of the nozzle 6 that is to bereplaced comprises the step of separating the nozzle 6 to be replacedfrom the nozzle-carrier elements 8 (FIG. 6C).

According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a methodfor fast mounting of a nozzle 6 in a filling unit 10. This method offast mounting comprises the steps of: setting the nozzle 6 in thehousing seat 4 provided in the supporting base 2 of the filling unit 10;bringing the blocking member 24 from the inoperative position, where thenozzle 6 can be extracted from the housing seat 4, to the operativeposition, where the blocking member 24 prevents extraction of the nozzle6 from the housing seat 4 (FIG. 6A); and controlling the fasteningmember 26 for fixing the blocking member 24 in the operative position.

In particular, the step of controlling the fastening member 26 includesgripping manually and without the use of tools the gripping portion 26Aof the fastening member 26 and, via the gripping portion 26A, operatingthe fastening member 26 to fix the blocking member 24 in the operativeposition.

More in particular, the step of setting the nozzle 6 in the housing seat4 provided in the supporting base 2 of the filling unit 10 envisages thefollowing operations: applying at least one new nozzle 6 on thenozzle-carrier element 8 (FIG. 6C); and inserting the nozzle-carrierelement 8 and the new nozzle 6 coupled thereto within the housing seat 4(FIG. 6B).

Preferably, the step of controlling the fastening member 26 for fixingthe blocking member 24 in the operative position comprises the step ofturning the gripping portion 26A so as to bring the threaded pin 26B ofthe fastening member 26 to engage with the threaded hole 22A of theanchorage seat 22.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, thedetails of construction and the embodiments may vary, evensignificantly, with respect to what has been illustrated herein purelyby way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scopeof the invention, as defined by the annexed claims. For instance, insome embodiments, the nozzle-carrier element 8 might not be envisaged.

1. A filling unit, in particular for filling containers with a liquid,such as cartridges for electronic cigarettes, comprising: a nozzle fordispensing a product; a supporting base having a housing seat configuredto receive the nozzle; a blocking member mobile between an operativeposition, in which said blocking member prevents extraction of saidnozzle from said housing seat, and an inoperative position, in whichsaid nozzle can be extracted from said housing seat; and a fasteningmember for fixing said blocking member in said operative position, saidfastening member comprising a gripping portion provided for manualcommand without a use of tools of said fastening member, wherein saidfastening member is carried by said blocking member both when theblocking member is in the operative position and when the blockingmember is in the inoperative position.
 2. The filling unit according toclaim 1, wherein said blocking member is rotatable with respect to thesupporting base so as to turn between said operative position and saidinoperative position, and vice versa.
 3. The filling unit according toclaim 1, wherein said gripping portion comprises a knob that isrotatable and wherein the fastening member comprises a fixing pin fixedin rotation with respect to the knob.
 4. The filling unit according toclaim 3, wherein the supporting base comprises an anchorage seat foranchoring at least one portion of the fastening member, and saidfastening member is provided for engaging the anchorage seat when theblocking member is in the operative position.
 5. The filling unitaccording to claim 4, wherein the fixing pin has a threaded end that canbe removably coupled to a threaded hole of the anchorage seat.
 6. Thefilling unit according to claim 1, comprising a nozzle-carrier elementthat can be at least partially inserted, in a removable way, in thehousing seat; and wherein the blocking member in the operative positionis set over and against said nozzle-carrier element.
 7. The filling unitaccording to claim 6, comprising a tank containing the product to bedispensed, and wherein the nozzle-carrier element comprises an internalduct for passage of the liquid that sets the tank and the nozzle fluidcommunication.
 8. The filling unit according to claim 7, wherein thenozzle-carrier element and the nozzle are removably coupled byinterference fit.
 9. A method for fast mounting of a nozzle in a fillingunit for filling containers with a liquid, such as cartridges forelectronic cigarettes, comprising the steps of: setting the nozzle in ahousing seat provided in a supporting base of the filling unit; bringinga blocking member from an inoperative position, where said nozzle can beextracted from said housing seat, to an operative position, where saidblocking member prevents extraction of said nozzle from said housingseat; and controlling a fastening member for fixing said blocking memberin said operative position, wherein said fastening member is carried bysaid blocking member both when the blocking member is in the operativeposition and when the blocking member is in the inoperative position;wherein said step of controlling said fastening member includes grippingmanually and without a use of tools, a gripping portion of the fasteningmember and through said gripping portion operating said fastening memberfor fixing said blocking member in said operative position.
 10. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein setting the nozzle in said housingseat includes coupling said nozzle to a nozzle-carrier element andinserting at least partially said nozzle-carrier element into thehousing seat; and wherein the step of bringing the blocking member fromthe inoperative position to the operative position includes setting saidblocking member over and against said nozzle-carrier element.
 11. Amethod for fast removal of a nozzle to be replaced from a filling unit,for filling containers with a liquid, such as cartridges for electroniccigarettes, comprising the steps of: controlling a fastening member torelease a blocking member from an operative position thereof, where saidblocking member prevents extraction of the nozzle to be replaced from ahousing seat provided in a supporting base of the filling unit; whereinsaid step of controlling said fastening member includes grippingmanually and without a use of tools, a gripping portion of the fasteningmember and through said gripping portion operating said fastening memberto release said blocking member from said operative position; bringingsaid blocking member from the operative position to an inoperativeposition, where the nozzle to be replaced can be extracted from saidhousing seat, wherein said fastening member is carried by said blockingmember both when the blocking member is in the operative position andwhen the blocking member is in the inoperative position; and extractingsaid nozzle to be replaced from said housing seat.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 11, wherein extracting said nozzle to be replacedfrom the housing seat includes extracting a nozzle-carrier element fromthe housing seat and uncoupling the nozzle to be replaced from thenozzle-carrier element by puffing said nozzle away from thenozzle-carrier element.
 13. The method according to claim 11, whereincontrolling said fastening member includes engaging or releasing ananchorage seat of the supporting base to or from said fastening member.14. The method according to claim 11, wherein bringing said blockingmember from said inoperative position to said operative position, andvice versa, comprises rotating said blocking member with respect to thesupporting base.